Escape

Ford introduced this compact SUV to North America for the 2001 model year, positioning it as a smaller, more car-like alternative in the growing utility-vehicle market. It quickly became one of Ford’s most important nameplates in the segment, helped in part by its balance of practicality and everyday driving manners. For 2005, Ford expanded the model’s significance with the launch of a hybrid version, which became a milestone in the brand’s SUV history and an early example of electrified mainstream utility vehicles. Over the years, the nameplate has gone through several major redesigns and generational updates, evolving from a relatively simple compact SUV into a more contemporary crossover with a broader range of powertrain and technology offerings. Despite those changes, it has remained a core part of Ford’s SUV lineup rather than disappearing and returning, and it continues to be sold in the present day.